Zias drop two games in tourney

WICHITA FALLS, Texas — Blown out 12-0 by Arkansas Tech in its first game on Friday, Eastern New Mexico University's softball team bounced back with a strong effort against Texas A&M International before a three-run fifth lifted the Dustdevils to a 4-2 win on Friday in the Holiday Inn at The Falls Invitational, hosted by Midwestern State.

Junior Katie Ramsay (0-6) carried a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth before the Dustdevils (7-6) took the lead on a two-out, bases-loaded walk to pinch-hitter Desiree Ramos and a two-run, pinch-hit single by Cassie Garcia.

ENMU (2-11) jumped on top in the third inning against International's Sarah Johnson (2-1), loading the bases with no one out on a walk to Ke VonSchriltz and singles by Beatriz Caporal and Kyra Sirag. With one out, Lizzy Velasquez hit an RBI single before Erica Armendarez belted a sacrifice fly to center.

Ramsay allowed seven hits in 5 1/3 innings before Alberta Medina got the final two outs. Johnson finished with a seven-hitter, one walk and two strikeouts.

Caporal led ENMU's seven-hit attack, going 3-for-4, while Velasquez was 2-for-3.

The Zias' only baserunner against Arkansas Tech (2-4) was VonSchriltz, who singled with two out in the third. She was thrown out stealing, however, and Golden Suns pitcher Shanna Davidson (1-0) worked four innings for the win.

Ramsay kept the Zias close until the fourth, with the Golden Suns eruptted to nine runs on six hits, sending 15 batters to the plate. The big hits in the frame were two-run singles by Amy Kilpatrick and Ashley Keen and a two-run homer by Siarra Gomez, her second of the season.

Arkansas Tech, which later lost to host MSU 4-3, finished with nine hits against the Zias, coming from eight players.

The Zias play three more games today to complete play in the event. They take on Arkansas Tech again at 8 a.m. (MST), followd by games against East Central at 11 a.m. and Texas A&M International at 4 p.m